Pneumatic system for automobiles.



R. S. WALLACE. PNEUMATIC SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 23, 190B.

Patented Nov. 15,1910.

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RQBEPJT S. WAL T ACE, F FORNEY, TEXAS, iEiSIGNZJFQ 071 SNE EI-IIRD TU GRGVIdSB IX, GE FORNE'SZ', TEXAS.

Application filed December similar niotondrivcn vehicles, and the invention has 't'orits object an improved pneumatic system embodying a clutch mechanism 'through the instrunientality of which the compressors are adapted to be operatively connected to the motor so as to utilize power from the latter to compress a supply of air. the supply of compressed air being utilized in forcibly applying the brakes and being susceptible of various other applications hereinafter suggested.

With this and. other objects in view that will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and to acquire a knowledge of the details or" construction,reterencc is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the application of the invention to an automobile; and, Fig. 2 is a top plan View with the vehicle top broken away.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawingby the same reference characters.

My improved. pneumatic system consists essentially ofa transverse reservoir 1 that is mounted at the rear portion of the running 1 gear or other suitable portion oi the vehicle,

and that has connection with one end of an inlet pipe 2 through which compressed air is designed to be introduced into the reservoir. At its other end, the inlet pipe '2 is provided with two branches which are connected withthe respective cylinders of two air compressing pumps 4. These pumps or compressors are oppositely a'nd transversely disposed and are arranged in front of the tank 1 and on opposite sides of a driven shaft 10, the driven shaft extending longitudinally of the running gear and being journalcd in Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented Nova 15. 1910.

23,190S. Serial No. 469,024.

proximity to its opposite ends in hangers ll secured thereto. The cylinders of the pumps are provided at their adjacent ends with guideways 5 in which slide cross-heads 6 fixed on the piston rods 7, the cross-heads beingoperati's-ely connected through the medium of pit-men 8 to a crank 9 formed at an intermediate point in the length of the driven shaft 10. A. sleeve 12-3 is suitably mounted on the forward end portion of the driven shaftso as to turn therewith and to ie capable of sliding longitudinally thereon. A. gear wheel 12 is fixed on the sleeve and is arranged in one position thereof to mesh with a relatively small pinion 14 fixed on the rear end of the motor shaft 15 of a suitable motor. the motor shaft being positioned in substantially parallel relation to the driven shaft. The gear wheel 12 cooperates with the pinion ll to provide a positive clutch between the adjacent ends of the shafts and 15. The clutch is rendered inoperative by sliding the sleeve 13 rearwardly on the driven shaft to shift the gear Wheel 12 out of mesh with the inion 14. As the preferred means for etihcting the sliding move ment of the sleeve. I employ a lever 17 which is 'lulcrumed at an intermediate point. as shown. and which has one arm connected to the sleeve and has its other arm operatively connected to foot or hand opeiated device positioned in proximity to-the drivers seat.

In the practical use of my improved pneumatic system, when the vehicle is standing still, or even when it is in motion. and it becomes necessary to inject compressed air into the reservoir 1 for any purpose. the clutch-mntrollingr mechanism is operated by the driver so as to throw the wheel 12 into engagement with the pinion The shaft it? is then lri from the shaft through the instrunm li'ty of the intermeshingr gearingz. and El crank J therefore rcciprocalcs the pistons T in the cylinders of the rcspc tive comp: ssor pumps 4, the air compressed in the cylinders being forced through the inlet pipe 3 into the reservoir 1. For convenience. a pipe 18 is preferably attached to the reservoir 1 and leads therefrom to a point in proximity to the drivers seat and carries a gage 19 f01' ;lI1dl21tlI1g the pressure of the air in the reservoir. A whistle or other safety signal 20 is also attached to the pipe 18- and is'arranged to be actuated by a predetermined pressure so as to warn the driver of the eiquedimncj of stcieping the con'lpressorsv or the purpose of illustration, 1 have i-ziiovvn and. deserii'jed one manner of utiiizing the compressevi air supply, in which the supp-1y pipe'itl ieads from the reeervoir l to point in convenient reach ofthe operator, and carries eeoi'roff valve 22, and this cutoff valve of cock is provided with an outlet 93 and is also conoecteai, through the instrumentality of a lead. pipe 24, to a, brake ey1- inder $25, the piston 26 working in the cyl indelbeing operativeiy connected to the brake mechanism (not shown) of the ve-' hiele. With such an arrangement, the operator' may conveniently manipulate the cut-.

Heving thus described the invention, what I claim is:

The combination of a rotery'drive shaft, a motor for rotating sold shaft, :1 P1111011 fixed on the shaft, a driven shaft formed with a, monk, a sleeve rmatabie with the driven shaft and slidable longitudinally thereon, a gem Wheei carried by the sieeve anti adopted to mesh with the pinion to transmit power from the drive shaft to the driven shaft, a lever for sliding the sleeve on the driven shaft to move the gear Wheel into and'outof mesh with the pinion, a pair of compressor cylinders extending tronsverseiy on opposite sides of the driven shaft, pistons having reciprocamry movement within the cylinders, piston rods secured to the pistons and. projecting through the adjacent ends of the cylinders, guides provided at the adjacent ends of the cylindermeross heads secured to the projecting portionsof the piston rods and movable in the respective guides, pitmen connecting both piston ,rode to the crank, it i'eeervoirfoi compressed air, and a pipe coupledat one end. to the reservoir and bifurcitting at its other end with the bifmrcatioi s communicating with the remote ends of i e compressor cylinders.

In testimoiiv whereof I afi'ix my slgnatme in presence of two \VltnGSSQ-j.

ROBIEWI E 'WALLACE. [1 s.]

Witnesses W. D. ADAIJJS, CLEM BAINL-ES, 

